THE SUPREME Courtof Ghana has quashed a decision bya Winneba High Court which found Prof. Mawutor Avoke, Vice Chancellor of the University of Education Winneba (UEW) guilty of some procurement breaches.

This afternoon, the apex court handed down a certiorari on the judgment of Justice George Atto Mills-Graves, which had also found the school’s former Director of Finance, Or. Theophilus Senyo Ackorle, guilty of the same procurement breaches.

According to the Supreme Court, the Winneba High Court vandalized the rules of natural justice by failing to give the defendants a hearing.

The High Court, the Supreme Court said, gave that default judgment in a manner thatwas an “error in law.“

That judgment against Prof. Avoke and the Director of Financehad been a default one and had been used as basis to sack the VC, Dr. Ackorlie and three other principal officers or the school by the UEW Governing Counsel.

Many observers of the legal troubles of Prof. Avoke deduced the whole drama as a political machination. It had started when New Patriotic Party MP for Efutu, Alexander Afenyo Markins, Counseled for one Supl Kofi Kwayera in his quest to remove Prof. Avoke on grounds that the school Council he was serving on was operating on expired tenure.

Prof. Avoke and the UEW had applied to the High Court for the case to be dismissed but before the substantive case would be heard, the court had found him and Dr. Ackorle, guilty of procurement breaches.

Upon the removal or Prof. Avoke an investiture had quickly been arranged for Prof. Avoke’s Deputy, ProVice Chancellor. Rev. Prof. Anthony Afful Broni, to be inducted into office as the new VC of the UEW.

Amidst warnings by Prof. Avoke’s former Counsel, Dr. Raymond Atuguba, that the investiture was an illegality since the case was still pending before court, President Akufo-Addo had traveled down to Winneba to attend as Special Guest of Honor.

Less than two months intothat investiture the Supreme Court has quashed the case that removed Prof. Avoke from office and made way for Prof. Aful-Bronito be promoted as Vice Chancellor.

It is not clear what this leaves the new VC, but it is believed that Prof. Aful-Broni will now have to pack his stuff and retrace his foot­ steps from the office of Prof. Avoke.

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